Metallic door frame securing clip



May 27, 1952 v. sHEA l 2,598,139

METALLIC DOOR FRAME SECURING. CLIP Filed March 2o; 195o IN VEN TOR. VERNE/2 L. SJEA BY Patented May 27, 1952 (UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE:

METALLIC DOOR FRAME SECURING CLIP Verner L. Shea, San Francisco, Calif.

Application March 20, 1950, Serial No. 150,705

4 Claims. 1 n

The present invention relates to building construction and more particularly to an improvement by which metallic door and window frames may be conveniently inserted and secured in partitions of the so-called dry-wall type which are surfaced with a finishing material such as Sheet Rock, Beaverboard or the like.

One object of my invention is to provide a new and improved means by which prefabricated metallic door and window frames of channel crosssection may be conveniently positioned in and secured within a studding outlined opening ina dry-wall partition.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved clip for securing prefabricated metallic door and window frames of channel cross-section in dry-wall finished partitions and which will also serve to position and secure the dry-wall finishing material in sealed and nished engagement with the metallic frame when finally secured in the partition.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part pointed out hereinafter and in part evident to those skilled in the art as the description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawing proceeds.

In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a metallic door frame equipped with a securing clip constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view in section showing the manner in which the door frame of Figure 1 is secured to the studding of a partition. and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view in plan showing my improved metallic frame securing clip in operation under other conditions of use.

The problem of installing prefabricated metallic frames in the partitions and walls of a building under construction presents 'several problems. One of these problems is to provide the frame with a means by which it may be firmly secured in the opening of a partition which will not at the same time interfere with a free and easy positioning of the completely prefabricated metallic frame within the opening where it is to be installed. Another problem is to provide a means that will render the prefabricated metallic frame adaptableto various types of dry-wall partition surfacing materials without the use of plaster, shims or a mastic for establishing a sealed contact between the wall surface and the back band of the metallic frame.

In order to meet the above requirements I have, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, provided a specially formed clip I which is spot welded as at II to a metallic door frame I2 that is generally of channel cross-section. Extending about the inner facing of the door frame I2 there is a door stop or cleat I3 extending inwardly at the back of the door frame I2 there are oppositely disposed anges I4 that are adapted toengage with the outer surface of a dry-wall nishing material (not shown) when the door frame is finally installed within vthe partition. 'The clip I 0 as here shown has two oppositely extending tongues I5 which normally lie flat against the flanges I4 when the door frame is delivered from the factory. When received in this condition the door frame I2 may be easily positioned with a studding outlined opening of a partition. After the frame I2 is properly positioned within the thus outlined opening the oppositely eX- tending tongues I5 are-bent outwardly, as indi'- cated by dot and dash lines, so that they may then be nailed or otherwise secured to the studding of a partition. These tongues I5 are shown as having perforations I'I that will facilitate a bending thereof at points which will also center the frame I2 with respect to the studding I9 and at their outer ends they have additional holes I3 through which a nail for 'example may be driven to secure the clip to the studding. In addition to the oppositely extending tongues I5, above described, the clip I0 also carries an additional set of tongues or ears I6 that are inclined outwardly into the interior of the door frame I2 and at an angle with respect to the surface of the wall and also at an angle with respect to the flanges ,I4 which form the back band of the door frame I2.

Upon now referring to Figure 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that when the clip ID is secured to a studding I9 at the side of a door frame by means of nails 20 there will be provided a clearance space between the studding I9 and the back band flanges' I4 of the door frame into which a sheet of dry-wall nishing material 2| may be extended to complete the assembly. In this showing the studding I9 and the sheet of dry-wall material 2I are of a specified width and thickness which' correspond with the space between the back band flanges I 4 of the door frame I 2. Under these conditions, if required or desired the tongues I6 may be bent straight back vso as to provide for'any required projection of the dry-wall finishing material 2| into the frame I2.

In this figure of the drawing the door frame securing clip I 0 is shown as installed under ideal conditions where the studding outlining the doorway of the partition and the dry-Wall surfacing material 2I are of the uniform and standard dimensions for which the door frame is designed. In this connection' however, it should be pointed out that while it is an easy matter to maintain a uniformity in the dimensions of a prefabrlcated metallic frame, it is more diflicult to reproduce these dimensions in a wooden partition where the dimensions of the studding and other materials which go to make up the partition often vary considerably from specified dimensions. This is a condition that prevails generally in wooden building construction. Where the partition is of the wet Wall type this is not too serious as the plaster thickness may be varied to compensate for any excess or deciency in the dimensions of the studding and/or the plaster supporting medium used in the partition. However, with a dry wall partition the use of more or less plaster or a mastic is out of the question.

To meet the latter above conditions, I have, as shown in Figure 3, provided my improved frame securing clip with means by which the dry-wall surfacing material 2l is caused to engage with the back band of the metallic door frame and thus establish a finished and sealed joint therebetween without the employment of any mastic or other crack closing means. In this showing the tongues or ears 16 are inclined and disposed at an angle so that when engaged by the edge of a sheet or dry wall material such as Sheet Rock or Beaverboard this material will be deflected outwardly from the studding 22 and into contact with the inturned flanges lll at each side of the door frame l0. This will therefore result in a finished appearance without resort to any additional material such as a mastic or a quarter-round sealing strip as is now generally required where a metallic door or window frame is mounted within a so-called dry Wall partition.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose the invention so that the same can be readily understood, described and illustrated specific devices and arrangements, I desire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the specific means disclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that this invention is new and all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A metallic frame member for a door or window opening in a dry Wall nished partition, comprising a metallic frame of substantially channel cross-section having closure member accommodating cleats formed about its inner facings and inwardly extending flanges at its outer perimeter adapted to engage with the wall surfaces of a partition, a clip formed of ductile sheet metal secured within the channel of said frame memberhaving a portion extending outwardly' from said channel and disposed between the inturned angesl of said metallic frame member, said clip portion having a pair 4of spaced ears adapted to be secured to a studding surrounding the opening and thus secure said metallic frame in said partition, and means carried by said clip forming an angled surface adapted Y and arranged to be engaged by a sheet of dry Wall surfacing material and deflect it into engagement with the inturned flanges of said metallic frame when the sheet material is secured upon said studding to complete the partition.

2. A metallic frame for door and window openings in a dry wall finished partition, comprising a metallic frame of substantially channel cross-section having closure member accommodating cleats formed aboutits inner facings and inwardly extending flanges at its outer perimeter adapted to engage with the wall surfaces of a partition, a clip formed of sheet metal secured within the channel of said frame member having an outwardly extending portion disposed in a plane substantially in line with the inturned flanges of said metallic frame member, said extending portion having a pair of oppositely disposed ears which may be bent and secured to a studding surrounding the opening in said partition, and a second pair of ears carried by said clip extending into the channel of said frame and disposed at an angle with respect to the plane of the partition and the inwardly extending flanges of said frame member adapted and arranged to be engaged by the side of a sheet of dry Wall surfacing material and deflect it into engagement with the inturned flanges of said metallic frame.

3. In a clip for securing metallic door frames in a dry wall finished partition having a studding defining a doorway opening therein, the combination of a metallic door frame of channel cross-section having inwardly extending Wall surface engaging flanges extending around its outer perimeter, a clip secured within said door frame and extending outwardly between said wall surface engaging flanges having a pair of oppositely disposed tongues adapted and arranged to be bent and secured to a studding which defines an opening in the partition, and a means also carried by said clip providing an angularly disposed wedging surface adapted and arranged to engage with and deflect a sheet of dry wall finishing material when extended into the channel of said frame member into rm contact with the inwardly extending flanges of said metallic door frame.

4. In a clip for securing metallic door frames in a dry wall finished partition having a studding defining a doorway opening therein, the combination of a metallic door frame of channel cross-section having inwardly extending Vwall surface engaging flanges extending around its outer perimeter, a clip secured within the channel of said door frame and extending outwardly between said wall surface engaging flanges having a pair of tongues adapted and arranged to be bent and secured to the studding which defines an opening in the partition, and a second pair of oppositely extending tongues carried by said clip adjacent said first pair of tongues and extending into the channel vof said metallic door frame and inclined at an angle with respect to the plane of said partition adapted and arranged to be engaged by and hold a sheet of dry wall finishing material in firm contact with the inwardly extending flanges'of said metallic door frame.

VERNER L. SHEA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,287,672 Gogay Dec. 1'7, 1918 1,712,019 Baum May 7, 1929 2,009,267 Kotrbaty July 23, 1935 OTHER REFERENCES American Builder, March 1948, page 112. 

